2S4 ENGLAND. 



In the mean time, Mr. Pitt, who had conducted the war against 

 France with such eminent ability, and who had received the best in- 

 formation of the hostile intentions and private intrigues of the court 

 of Spain, proposed in council an immediate declaration of war against 

 that kingdom. But he was overruled in the council, all the members 

 of which declared themselves of a contrary opinion, excepting- his 

 brother-in-law, earl Temple. Mr. Pitt now found the decline of his 

 influence ; and it was supposed that the earl of Bute, who had a con- 

 siderable share in directing the education of the king, had acquired 

 an ascendency in the royal favour. Mr. Pitt, therefore, resigned the 

 seals, and lord Temple also gave up the post which he held in the 

 administration. 



The war still continued to be carried on with vigour after the re- 

 signation of Mr. Pitt, and the plans were pursued that he had previ- 

 ously concerted. It was at length lound indispensably necessary to 

 engage in a war with Spain ; the famous family compact among all 

 the different branches of the Bourbon family being generally known j 

 and accordingly war was declared against that kingdom, on the 4th 

 of January, 1762. A respectable armament was fitted out under ad- 

 miral Pococke, having the eari of Albemarle on board to command 

 the land forces ; and the vitals of the Spanish monarchy were struck 

 at by the reduction of the Havanna, the strongest and most important 

 fort which his catholic majesty held in the West Indies, after a siege 

 of two months and eight days. The loss of the Havanna, with the 

 ships and treasures there taken from the Spaniards, was succeeded 

 by the reduction of Manilla and the Philippine islands in the East 

 Indies, under general Draper and admiral Cornish, with the capture 

 of the Trinidad, reckoned worth three million of dollars. To coun- 

 teract those dreadful blows given to the family compact, the French 

 and Spaniards employed their last resource, which was to quarrel 

 with and invade Portugal, which had been always under the peculiar 

 protection of the British arms. 



The negociations for peace were now resumed ; and the enemy at 

 last offered such terms as the British ministry thought, admissible 

 and adequate on the occasion. The defection of the Russians from 

 the confederacy against the king of Prussia, and his consequent suc- 

 cesses, produced a cessation of arms in Germany, and in all other 

 quarters ; and on the 10th of February, 1763, the definitive treaty of 

 peace between his Britannic majesty, the king of France, and the 

 king of. Spain, was concluded at Paris, and acceded to by the king 

 of Portugal : March 10, the ratifications were exchanged at Paris : 

 the 22d, the peace was solemnly proclaimed at Westminster and 

 London ; aad the treaty having on the 18th been laid before the par- 

 liament, it met the approbation of a majority of both houses. 



In the mean time, the earl of Bute, who had been made first lord 

 of the treasury, resigned that office^ and was succeeded by Mr. George 

 Grenville ; and under this gentleman's administration an act was pass- 

 ed, said to have been framed by him, which was productive of the most 

 pernicious consequences to Great Britain ; " an act for laying a stamp 

 duty in the British colonies of North America, which received the 

 royal assent on the 22d of March, 1765. Some other injudicious pre- 

 vious regulations had also been made, under pretence of preventing 

 smuggling in America, but which in effect so cramped the trade 

 of the coioniesj as to be prejudicial both to them and the mother 

 country. 



